Eduardo H. Calvillo Gámez

What is new

2018-04-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

Accepted as a Member Candidate of the Mexican National Researchers System
My TEDx talk is now on youtube (in spanish): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY_DeSQ98Vc
Paper published: Eduardo H. Calvillo Gamez, Jodi Crisp & Pablo Romero, Empirical Validation of the Involvement Component of the Pervasive GameFlow Model, ACE 2011, Lisbon, Portugal.
Paper published: Eduardo H. Calvillo Gamez, Ana Isabel Grimaldo Martínez, Victor Gonzalez & Rafael Llamas Contreras, Pamphlet vs. Mobile: Sensemaking of Health Information, 2011 Latin American Conference on HCI, Porto de Galinhas, Brazil.
Paper published: Pablo Romero & Eduardo Calvillo Gamez, Towards an Embodided View of Flow, Proceedings of User Models for Motivational Systems 2 Workshop, Girona, Spain, 2011.
Proceedings of the 3rd Mexican Workshop on Human Computer Interaction (MexIHC) 2010 are available at the ACM Digital Library
Special issue "Video Games as Research Instruments" of "Entertainment Computing" by Elsevier published.

About my research interests

2017-04-18T08:09:00.000-07:00

I am a researcher interested in the interaction between humans and technology. My main research interests are user experience, input devices and video games.

In previous projects I had worked on evaluating, and identifying, the user experience for video games. I have also been involved in projects for defining the relationship between business and technology. I have consulted on understanding the flow and organisation of information within an organization. I have also explored the role of governments in establishing policies to foster technological development in a third world country. And in the far past, I worked on the modelling of new interaction techniques, CAD for VLSI, Computer Vision and Usability Evaluations.

CFP: “Video Games as Research Instruments”, Special Issue of “Entertainment Computing” by Elsevier

2010-08-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

Special Issue of “Entertainment Computing” by Elsevier
“Video Games as Research Instruments”

Video games have a history of being used to study phenomena in HCI and other disciplines. The use of video games as research tools is becoming more widespread in areas such as addiction, user experience, immersion, strategy and decision making. They offer an excellent way to motivate participants in HCI studies, and by using online casual games researchers can potentially access hundreds of participants.

We invite submissions to this special issue of Entertainment Computing that address the methodological aspects of working with videogames in experimental settings. The aim of the issue is to highlight the benefits, caveats and experiences of working with video games in research projects. The papers will not focus on the games themselves, but on their use to study wider phenomena. This special issue builds on the workshop of the same name held at ACM CHI 2010 (http://www.uclic.ucl.ac.uk/people/e.calvillo/ws_videogames/).

The issue is open to papers from *any* area of research that makes use of video games - for example, sociology, education, gender studies, human error, immersion - as long as the paper focuses on the methodological aspects of using games.

Two types of submissions will be considered for the special issue:

Research Papers – up to 18 pages: We invite researchers in all disciplines using video games as research instruments to submit papers addressing the following topics: the general problem of your research, how and why video games are used, an overview of results and a discussion of experiences and issues specific to using video games.
Technical Notes – up to 6 pages: We invite researchers to share their expertise of using video games as research tools by submitting papers of up to 6 pages describing how specific technical challenges were overcome when using a particular game, platform or technique. Only a limited number of these will be accepted and they will be reviewed to the same high standards as research papers.

Please direct any questions to Eduardo Calvillo-Gámez (eduardo.calvillo@gmail.com) and submit your paper via Elsevier Electronic System (http://ees.elsevier.com/entcom/default.asp), for which you may have to register. Please make sure you select the article type "Special issue: Video Games" when you submit your paper. When preparing your manuscript, please follow the Elsevier Guide for Authors (http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/717010/authorinstructions).

Timetable:

Please submit articles by October 10, 2010. We aim to make final decisions on acceptance by the end of February 2011.

Guest Editors:

Eduardo H. Calvillo Gámez, Universidad Politécnica de San Luis Potosí (eduardo.calvillo@gmail.com)

Paul Cairns, University of York (pcairns@cs.york.ac.uk)

Jeremy Gow, Imperial College London (j.gow@imperial.ac.uk)

Video Games as Research Instruments

2010-02-15T14:44:00.000-08:00

Video Games as Research Instruments
E.H. Calvillo Gámez, J. Gow, P. Cairns, J. Back & E. Capstick.

Abstract - The workshop aims to help researchers share experience and expertise on the use of video games as research instruments in HCI and related disciplines. It will focus on existing uses, methodologies, results and issues with using video games, and is expected to lead to a better shared understanding of their current and future use across a variety of disciplines.

Workshop (Organiser) at CHI 2010.
Workshop website

Remembering rituals of remembrance: Capturing Xantolo through SenseCam

2010-02-15T14:34:00.000-08:00

Remembering rituals of remembrance: Capturing Xantolo through SenseCam
Siân E. Lindley, E.H. Calvillo Gámez, and J.J. Gámez Leija

ABSTRACT - Xantolo is a Mexican tradition in which deceased loved ones are celebrated and honoured through their re-enactment. In this paper, we outline a proposed project in which we intend to capture first-person perspectives of Xantolo via a wearable camera, SenseCam. This should give rise to a number of outcomes. Firstly, it will involve the creation of a novel record of Xantolo by capturing a first-person perspective. Secondly, it will allow participants of the event to reflect upon its practices in a different social context, hopefully allowing insights to be gained into its various rituals. Finally, the project allows the possibility of reflecting upon a deceased relative by re-visiting their re-enactment, a process that is somewhat specific to Xantolo, but that may nevertheless inspire the design of interactive systems for more general remembrance.

HCI at the End of Life: Understanding death, dying and digital, Workshop at CHI 2010, Atlanta, 2010.

Uso de Tecnologías Móviles como un Mecanismo de Comunicación y Difusión de las Políticas del Sector Salud en Situaciones de Contingencia Epid

2010-02-15T14:29:00.000-08:00

Uso de Tecnologías Móviles como un Mecanismo de Comunicación y Difusión de las Políticas del Sector Salud en Situaciones de Contingencia Epidemiológica.
Rafael LLAMAS CONTRERAS, Martín HERNÁNDEZ SUSTAITA, Eduardo H. CALVILLO GÁMEZ, Mario Alberto MARTÍNEZ

Abstract - El mayor desarrollo y uso de dispositivos móviles en la población hacen posible su aplicación en el área de la salud, dando origen al término m-health para referirse con ello a la relación entre salud y dispositivos móviles. En este artículo se presenta la metodología usada en el área de tecnologías de información para llevar a cabo un proyecto desarrollado sobre tecnologías móviles enfocado a informar a la población sobre situaciones de salud pública en el marco de una contingencia epidémica (virus AH1N1). La metodología de desarrollo utilizada sugieren que esté tipo de soluciones pueden ser implementadas de forma rápida para complementar la información que recibe la población ante situaciones de emergencia.

Email me for a pre-print of the PDF.
Simposio Internacional de Telemedicina 2010, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.

Assessing the Core Elements of the Gaming Experience

2009-09-25T14:41:00.000-07:00

Eduardo H. Calvillo Gámez, Paul Cairns & Anna L. Cox

Abstract — This chapter presents the theory of the Core Elements of the Gaming Experience (CEGE). The CEGE are the necessary but not sufficient conditions to pro-vide a positive experience while playing video-games. This theory, formulated using qualitative methods, is presented with the aim of studying the gaming experience ob-jectively. The theory is abstracted using a model and implemented in questionnaire. This chapter discusses the formulation of the theory, introduces the model, and shows the use of the questionnaire in an experiment to differentiate between two different experiences.

Email me for a pre-print of the PDF.
Chapter 4 in Regina Bernhaupt (ed), "Evaluating User Experience in Games". Springer Verlag, London, UK, 2010.

The Case of User Experience in Video Games

2009-08-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

Eduardo H. Calvillo Gámez, Paul Cairns & Anna L. Cox

Abstract — In this paper we present the Core Elements of the Gaming Experience (CEGE) as a theoretical framework for the user experience of playing video games. The paper brieﬂy presents survey of the status quo of the study of the experience of playing video games. We argue that these approaches fail to provide an objective assessment of the prosaic experience, thus we present the CEGE as a way to understand and study the user experience.

Keywords - User Experience, Video Games, CEGE

PDF Coming Soon!
ISBN Proceedings of CLIHC'09: Conferencia Latinoaméricana de Interacción Humano Computadora, Merida, Yucatan, 2009.

From the Gaming Experience to the Wider User Experience

2009-06-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

Eduardo H. Calvillo Gámez, Paul Cairns & Anna L. Cox

Abstract: In this paper we discuss the different elements of the gaming experience and their relation to other concepts within HCI. The objective is to showcase how the different elements that form the gaming experience can be used to understand further issues regarding user experience. The objectives of games are, after all, to provide players with a positive experience. Understanding the elements that eventually lead players to have a positive experience should provide feedback about the wider user experience concept. Although video-games and non-game applications seem to be two different domains of study, in terms of experience, they both aim to improve the individual’s experience.

Keywords: User Experience, Video-Games, Theory, Games

PDF Coming soon.
Proceedings of HCI 2009 - The British Computer Society Human Computer Interaction Conference, Cambridge, UK 2009

On the Core Elements of the Experience of Playing Video Games

2009-06-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

Eduardo Héctor Calvillo Gámez
Ph.D. Thesis
UCL Interaction Centre & Department of Computer Science

UCL e-prints

Abstract

This dissertation presents a multi-method approach to study the user experience of playing video games. The motivation is to devise an objective assessment of the concept of user experience. It is proposed that user experience is better understood when it is studied as a two fold phenomenon formed by a process and an outcome. This definition allows combining the subjective nature of experience together with the objectivity needed to propose an objective assessment of experience. An experience is personal in the achieved outcome, during the process of forming it there are elements
specific to the type of experience common to all individuals.

The thesis presents a series of studies to explore and understand the gaming experience as well as to identify the procedural elements of the experience. The outcome of the studies was the formulation of the Core Elements of the Gaming Experience (CEGE) theory, which focused on the process of the experience. The metaphor of ”puppetry” is used to provide a link to the outcome of the experience. Based on the theory, a questionnaire and model were developed. The model was validated using Structural Equation Modelling, which provided an adequate fit suggesting that the CEGE model is an accurate abstraction of the process of the gaming experience. Lastly, the theory was used to study different gaming experiences under different conditions. The results suggest that the CEGE theory can be used to assess this type of experience. It also shows that this method can be replicated in other domains to assess user experience.

The contributions of this dissertation are: a novel approach to understand user experience as a falsifiable concept, a theory and metaphor to describe the gaming experience, a model that describes the gaming experience, and an instrument that can be used to assess and explore different gaming experiences.

UCL e-prints
Brief history of the thesis:

Sponsored by SEP-PROMEP and UPSLP
PhD Started on 1st-October-2005
Thesis submited on 5-Jun-2009
Thesis defended on 20-July-2009; exactly on the tenth year anniversary of defending my BSc thesis. My thesis was examined by Prof. Mel Slater (Internal - UCL) and Prof. Yvonne Rogers (External - Open University). Outcome: Approved subject to minor corrections.
Corrections submited to internal examiner on 24-Aug-2009
Approved thesis corrections submited on 15-Sept-2009
Degree awarded on 28-Sept-2009

Enjoying my time playing video-games

2009-03-06T03:08:00.000-08:00

A poster for the UCL Graduate Research Poster Competition

Profile - Perfil

2008-04-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

English
Eduardo H. Calvillo Gámez holds a Ph.D. in Human Computer Interaction from University College London, a degree of Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University and a degree of Bachelors of Science in Electronic Engineering from Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Eduardo’s research interests are User Experience, Video Games, Input Devices, Technology Strategy, Management Information Systems and Epistemology of Human Computer Interaction. Currently he is a Faculty member of the New Information Technologies Division at Universidad Politécnica de San Luis Potosí, Mexico. He is a member of the CONACyT Thematic Network on Information and Communication Technologies. He is also a member of the Mexican National Researchers System - Candidate Level. He was a guest editor of Elsevier's Entertainment Computing, Program Chair of MexIHC'2010 and reviewer for multiple journals and conferences on Human Computer Interaction and Games.

Español

Eduardo H. Calvillo Gámez cuenta con los grados de doctor en Interacción Humano Computadora por el Colegio Universitario de Londres (UCL) en Reino Unido, Maestría en Ciencias en Ingeniería Eléctrica por la Universidad Tufts en Boston, Estados Unidos, e Ingeniero Electrónico por la Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí. Sus áreas de interés e investigación son Experiencia de Uso, Video Juegos, Dispositivos de Entrada, Estrategia Tecnológica, Sistemas de Información y Epistemología de Interacción Humano Computadora. Ha sido editor invitado de la revista de investigación Entertainment Computing de Elsevier, Director del Programa Académico del Taller Mexicano de Interacción Humano Computadora, miembro del programa académico y revisor de diferentes conferencias en interacción humano computadora y consultor en la misma área. Es miembro de la Red Temática de CONACYT en Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicaciones. Miembro Candidato del Sistema Nacional de Investigadores (SNI). Presidente de la Asociación Mexicana de Interacción Humano Computadora.

Pulling the Strings: A Theory of Puppetry for the Gaming Experience

2008-04-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

Eduardo H. Calvillo Gámez & Paul Cairns

Abstract - In this paper we introduce the theory of puppetry to understand the gaming experience. The paper concentrates on discussing the importance of operationalising the user experience, and how puppetry can be used to do so within the videogame domain. The paper aims to bringing the experience of playing videogames closer to objective knowledge, where the experience can be assessed and falsified. Experience is defined as a two fold phenomenon: process and outcome. The theory focuses on explaining the basic elements that form the core of the process of the experience. It argues that puppetry is formed by control and ownership. The name of puppetry is introduced after discussing the similarities in the importance of experience between videogames and theatrical puppetry. Then, puppetry operationalises the gaming experience into a concept that can be assessed.

Keywords - Gaming Experience, Puppetry

Pulling the Strings: A Theory of Puppetry for the Gaming Experience (Presented Version)
Pulling the Strings: A Theory of Puppetry for the Gaming Experience (Published Version)
Third Conference on the Philosophy of Computer Games
Conference Proceedings of Philosophy of Computer Games 2008
Potsdam, Germany, May 2008

Assessing the Gaming Experience Using Puppetry

2008-04-20T09:14:00.000-07:00

Eduardo H. Calvillo Gámez, Paul Carins & Ann Blandford

Abstract - In this paper we address the question: What factors of game experience are measured and have to be measured? by proposing a concept called Puppetry to assess the experience while playing videogames. Puppetry was obtained using qualitative methods on the experiences of players. The main characteristic of Puppetry is that it looks at the common elements of videogames that allow the user to build the experience.

Keywords - User Experience, Videogames, Gaming Experience

Assessing the Gaming Experience Using Puppetry
Evaluating User Experience in Games workshop at ACM CHI 2008
Florence, Italy, 2008

About me

2008-04-20T02:51:00.000-07:00

I grew up in San Luis Potosi, México. I studied Electronic Engineering at the Sciences School of Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosi and Electrical Engineering at Tufts University. After working as a summer intern at Avici Systems in their ASIC and Hardware departments, I realized that more than developing technology, I was interested in understanding the interaction between humans and technology.

Then I spend two years working with Rob Jacob on Tangible User Interfaces and worked as an intern at Verizon Labs, in their E-Commerce department, as a Usability Expert. I moved back to Méxicoin 2005 and I joined the Information Technology faculty of Universidad Politécnica de San Luis Potosí, where I lectured on Java, Theory of Computation, Computer Organization and Human Computer Interaction. I was in charge of developing the curricula of Information Technology Engineering and Telematics Engineering, as well as the certification programs for students.

I hold a Ph.D. on Human Computer Interaction from University College London, my supervisors were Dr. Paul Cairns and Dr. Anna L. Cox and I was sponsored by SEP-PROMEP and Universidad Politécnica de San Luis Potosí.

Reviewing

2008-04-14T05:26:00.000-07:00

I enjoy the role of reviewing papers and other research projects that more people are working on. I have reviewed papers for:

Interact 2009
MEXIHC 2008, 2010 (Member of the Program Committee and Program Chair for the latter)
BCS-HCI 2007 & 2008
CHI 2008
ALT-CHI 2010
Journal of Personal and Ubiquitous Computing
ACM Computers in Entertainment
DMS 2006
DS-VIS 2006
CISCI 2005
CLIHC 2003 & 2009

Feel free to send me your work for comments.

Workshop presentation

2007-11-05T00:12:00.000-08:00

I am attending the 10th Human-Centred Technology Postgraduate Workshop in Sussex on December 6th, where I am presenting a poster..... I submitted my abstract (see previous post).

Consulting

2007-05-11T14:10:00.000-07:00

I am available for consulting in the following areas:

Video-Game Experience
User Centred Design
Technology Usage
User Experience and Usability Studies
Information Flow
Questionnaire Design and Analysis

I am available to do consulting in projects that are managed in English or Spanish languages.

Teaching & Supervision

2007-05-11T13:50:00.000-07:00

Supervision of Projects

Amado Reyes, On Videogames and Elders, PhD in Computer Science, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE). Member of the Evaluation Committee, In Progress.

Masters

Ana Isabel Grimaldo Martínez, On Videogames, Elders and Children Interaction. MSc. in Computer Science, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California - Ensenada, Co-Supervision with Dr. Alberto Moran, In Progress.
Ji Huang, Strategy and Video Games, Thesis, MSc. on Human Computer Interaction and Ergonomics, UCL 2009
Jodi Crisp, Pervasive Games and User Experience, Thesis, MSc. on Human Computer Interaction and Ergonomics, UCL 2008

Bachelors

Gerardo Tabares Reyna, "Módulo de Ventas en surcursales Nitropiso", Universidad Politécnica de San Luis Potosí, 2011
Raul Rodríguez, "Computo Pervasivo en la Industria Restaurantera: E-Comanda", Bachelor of Information Technologies, Instituto Tecnológico de Zacapoaxtla, 2011.
Ana Isabel Grimaldo Martínez, "Sensemaking en el uso de dispositivos móviles para la salud", Information Technology Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de San Luis Potosí, 2011.
Jorge Agustín Serment Jonguitud, "Análisis, diseño, desarrollo e implementación de un dispensador de vales médicos", Information Technology Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de San Luis Potosí, 2010.

Teaching

For materials and information of the courses I am currently teaching (in Spanish), please consult: https://sites.google.com/site/cursosdeehcg/

I have taught at Universidad Politécnica de San Luis Potosí, The University of York (as the lab leader of a master's module on HCI, you can read the full experience here, written by Paul Cairns who was the leader of the course), UCL and Tufts University (as a Teaching Assistant and during the College of Teaching Excellence).

Virtual Systems - UPSLP Fall 2010, Fall 2011, Spring 2012
Professional Project - UPSLP Fall 2010
Human-Computer Interaction - UPSLP Fall 2004, 2010, 2011 - Univ. York - 2008 (Demostrator)
Creativity for IT - Spring 2010, 2012
Management Information Systems - Spring 2010
Video-Games - ITESM- San Luis Potosí, Spring 2012 - UCL Spring 2009
Theory of Computation UPSLP, Fall 2009
Object Oriented Programming with Java - UPSLP Spring 2004, 2005, 2011
Data Structures Fall 2010
Introduction to Programming - Fall 2003
Discrete Mathematics - Fall 2003
Computer Organization
Programming Languages

Other Webpages

2007-04-10T04:28:00.000-07:00

Here is the info about my other webpages:

Pairos y Cronopios - My Reflections and Feelins about my everyday life (In Spanish).
La Tramoya - My ideas about the interaction between Technology, Education and Society (In Spanish).

Public Communication

2006-05-02T09:06:00.000-07:00

One of the key duties of being an academic is public communication. I really enjoy being part of projects that are aimed at the public dissemination of science, technology and engineering. I have volunteered to work as editor in the following projects:

Revista Farsa - Web Master & Technology Editor, 2006-2007 - Tramoya was born when the magazine died (Spanish).
UCL Opticon 1826 - Engineering Sciences Editor, Issues 3 & 4
BCS Interfaces, MyPhD Co-Editor (with Stephen Hassard), 2008-2009

And I have collaborated in:

Universidad Politécnica de San Luis Potosí: 1er Simposio de Tecnologías de Información y Telemática.
Radio GRID-TI - In Spanish - Program 23

The TAC Paradigm: Specifying Tangible User Interfaces

2004-09-10T04:44:00.000-07:00

ORIT SHAER, NANCY LELAND, EDUARDO H. CALVILLO-GAMEZ, ROBERT J.K. JACOB

Abstract This paper introduces a paradigm for describing and specifying Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs). The proposed TAC (Token and Constraints) paradigm captures the core components of TUIs while addressing many of the conceptual challenges unique to building these interfaces. The paradigm enables the description of a broad range of TUIs by providing a common set of constructs. Thus, the TAC Paradigm lays the foundation for a high level description language and a software toolkit for TUIs. We evaluate the proposed paradigm by testing its ability to specify a wide variety of existing TUIs.

Keywords: Tangible User Interface (TUI), Physical Computing, Token and Constraints
(TAC), User Interface Management System (UIMS), User Interface Description
Language (UIDL), Software toolkit.

The TAC Paradigm: Specifying Tangible User Interfaces
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00779-004-0298-3
Personal and Ubiquitous Computing
Volume 8 , Issue 5 (September 2004)
Pages: 359 - 369
Year of Publication: 2004
ISSN:1617-4909

Static Timing Analysis for Level-Clocked Circuits in the Presence of Cross Talk

2003-09-10T05:06:00.000-07:00

Soha Hassoun, Christopher Cromer, Eduardo Calvillo-Gámez

Abstract—Static timing analysis is instrumental in efficiently verifying a design’s temporal behavior to ensure correct functionality at the required frequency. This paper addresses static timing analysis in the presence of cross talk for circuits containing level sensitive latches, typical in high-performance designs. The paper focuses on two problems. First, coupling in a sequential circuit can occur because of the proximity of a victim’s switching input to any periodic occurrence of the aggressor’s input switching window. This paper shows that only three consecutive periodic
occurrences of the aggressor’s input switching window must be considered. Second, an arrival time in a sequential circuit is typically computed relative to a specific clock phase. The paper
proposes a new phase shift operator to align the aggressor’s three relevant switching windows with the victim’s input signals. This paper solves the static analysis problem for level-clocked
circuits iteratively in polynomial time, and it shows an upper bound on the number of iterations equal to the number of capacitors in the circuit. The contributions of this paper hold for any discrete overlapping coupling model. The experimental results demonstrate that eliminating false coupling allows finding a smaller clock period at which a circuit will run.

Static Timing Analysis for Level-Clocked Circuits in the Presence of Cross Talk
Computer-Aided Design of Integrated Circuits and Systems, IEEE Transactions on
Publication Date: Sept. 2003
Volume: 22, Issue: 9
On page(s): 1270- 1277
ISSN: 0278-0070
INSPEC Accession Number: 7727044
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/TCAD.2003.816209

The TAC Paradigm: Unified Conceptual Framework to Represent Tangible User Interfaces

2003-08-10T04:49:00.000-07:00

Eduardo H. Calvillo Gámez, Nancy Leland, Orit Shaer and Robert J.K. Jacob
ABSTRACT This paper introduces a new paradigm for describing Tangible User Interfaces (TUI). The paradigm presented here encompasses existing TUI classications and proposes a unified conceptual framework with which all TUIs can be understood. In order to show that the new paradigm holds and can be generalized we analyzed several existing TUIs using the
proposed paradigm.
KEYWORDS: Tangible User Interface (TUI), TAC, Pyfo

The TAC Paradigm: Unified Conceptual Framework to Represent Tangible User Interfaces
ACM International Conference Proceeding Series; Vol. 46
Proceedings of the Latin American conference on Human-computer interaction
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
SESSION: Full papers
Pages: 9 - 15
Year of Publication: 2003

Information Infrastructure Enhancement Initiatives: A Case Study in Ghana

2002-05-06T05:42:00.000-07:00

Calvillo-Gámez E.H. Guang H.K., Lim S., Mutuku F.L.,

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Context
Internet development in Ghana is constrained by low teledensity, high dial-up tariffs, a workforce that is severely lacking in IT education, and low bandwidth both intra- and inter-nationally. Ghana hence faces grave challenges in building its national information infrastructure:

A digital divide is rapidly forming between the capital Accra and the other towns beyond the metropolitan magnetism of the country’s commercial core;
Within Accra, where fixed line telephony infrastructure is well established, there is increasing demand for affordable and reliable broadband Internet access services from enterprises and industries both multinational and local.

Proposal
This project proposes ICT initiatives to address commercial and social development needs that are fundamental to socioeconomic development in Ghana. Specifically, two initiatives are proposed:

ICT for Enterprises: Provision of cost-effective broadband Internet access and services for industries and enterprises
ICT for Connectivity and Education: Provision of basic Internet access and basic IT training to secondary school students and local communities (businesses and private individuals) via school-based telecenters.

Mission
As an emerging economy with a sound basic education system, a strife-free society and a business-friendly environment largely free of the meddling of kleptocratic politicians, Ghana today is at the stage of development shared by the East Asian ‘tiger’ economies at the start of their respective industrialization processes in the 1960s. These initiatives therefore aspire to achieve the following outcomes:

Cognizant that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and local enterprises established by local entrepreneurs will form the engines of growth, the ICT-for-Enterprises initiative aims to provide a model for the provision of adequate, low-cost and reliable information in the metropolitan areas and industrial zones to attract MNCs and high-tech, IT-enabled SMEs (small-medium enterprises).
Universal access, at least in urban areas, is an achievable goal that can be achieved via the provision of low cost public access facilities for telecommunications and the Internet, and is one aim of the ICT-for-Connectivity-and-Education initiative.
The second aim of the ICT-for-Connectivity-and-Education initiative is to provide IT education and training to students and members of local communities so as to create a workforce that can ultimately be assimilated into the emerging, high value-added, knowledge-based service and high-tech sectors.

Implementation
The proposed initiatives therefore support Ghana’s broad economic goals, and in terms of implementation, they are designed to be financially self-reliant to the extent possible, with a rollout process that is incremental and demand-driven. The ICT-for-Enterprise initiative is expected to be fully financially self-sustainable, with its growth determined wholly by market demand. The ICT-for-Connectivity-and-Education initiative is expected to be, at minimum, operationally sustainable, with possible financial relief from the State or NGOs required in covering its initial capital expenditure. The costs and revenue structures for both initiatives conceivably differ given the different intentions, policies, and factors that govern development in each case.

Conclusion
This project hence proposes two initiatives that seek to address key challenges that will dominate Ghanaian socioeconomic development in the coming decade in ways that are cost-feasible and attractive. Further work will be necessary in reaffirming many of the findings and projected results that have been arrived herein, as well as to explore the ways by which greater international bandwidth, so sorely lacking and yet difficult to obtain at affordable cost, can be acquired.

"Information Infrastructure Enhancement Initiatives: A Case Study in Ghana".
MIT, DHP P232/ ESD.127

Verifying Clock Schedules in the Presence of Cross Talk

2002-03-10T05:12:00.000-08:00

Soha Hassoun, Christopher Cromer, Eduardo Calvillo Gámez

Abstract - This paper addresses verifying the timing of circuits containing level-sensitive latches in the presence of cross talk. We show that three consecutive periodic occurrences of the
aggressor’s input switching window must be compared with the victim’s input switching window. We propose a new phase shift operator to allow aligning the aggressor’s threerelevant switching windows with the victim’s input signals. We solve the problem iteratively in polynomial time, and
show an upper bound on the number of iterations equal to the number of capacitors in the circuit. Our experiments demonstrate that eliminating false coupling results in finding a smaller clock period at which a circuit will run.

Verifying Clock Schedules in the Presence of Cross Talk
Design, Automation and Test in Europe Conference and Exhibition, 2002. Proceedings
Publication Date: 2002
On page(s): 346-350
Meeting Date: 03/04/2002 - 03/08/2002
Location: Paris, France
ISBN: 0-7695-1471-5

List of Publications

1999-03-26T05:01:00.000-08:00